Last summer, Anna's world got turned upside-down. It's hard to believe her travels to different worlds and fantastic yet dangerous adventures really took place. Little things, like the twinge of pain from her healing ribs, and a few relics, remind her that her journeys did actually occur. David, a ghost she met on her travels, suddenly reappears, bringing both old friends and foes back into her life. To help Sabaska, Anna must attempt to rescue captured Travelers from a Vanir stronghold, and still get home in time for school. An easy task compared to dealing with her mixed feelings for Cahir.

Uncovering a Vanir plot to find a powerful lost mage will test her strength and dedication to the Travelers. With the help of new and old friends, they set out in search of the mage. He could tip the balance of the war in either side’s favor and it’s up to Sabaska and Anna to get there first.

Julie has been many things over the last few years, from college student, to bookstore clerk and an over the road trucker. She’s worked as a 911 dispatcher and in computer tech support, but through it all she’s been a writer and when she’s not out riding horses, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer. She lives in Colorado with her three cats, her vampire-hunting dog Kira, her new horse and Traveler-in training, Triska, and her Irish Sailor.She is the author of many Vampire and Ghost-Hunting Dog stories and the young adult fantasy series Tales of the Travelers. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Dog Writers of America Association and the editor for Steampunk Trails fiction magazine.

Straightening from her hunched position over her math test, Anna looked wildly around, her heart racing.

"Right here," the voice said again.

Turning, she shrieked as a gray man solidified next to her in the aisle. Her pencil snapped in her hand. She picked up one of the broken ends and held it like a weapon.

"Now, is that anyway to treat an old friend?"

Anna stared at the gray man a little longer, took in the tight pants, belt full of pouches, and cloak. She sighed. Being able to see through him should have been her first clue.

"Anna, is there a problem?" Her math teacher, Mr. Frank, sounded annoyed.

Anna looked around. The entire class stared at her. "Uh." She glanced at David, the apparition, and then back at the class.

"Well, they can't see me right now, of course." He sounded smug. "Would you like them to?"

"No," she muttered, answering both her teacher and the ill-timed specter. "No. I'm sorry, Mr. Frank. I just thought I saw something, like a ghost, and it scared me. I've been reading some scary stories recently and I guess they got to me." It sounded lame, even to her, especially in the middle of a midterm math test.

Several people in the class snickered. Karen, her best friend, shot her a concerned look before going back to her test. Anna shut her eyes for a minute, wondering what the gossips would say about the incident. "We can talk later," she muttered at the ghost.

"Of course, Anna." His cultured voice sounded amused and apologetic.

She shook her head, not really angry with David. He had saved her and Sabaska's life over the summer and she could survive a few days of ridicule so he could have some amusement. And he was right; her life was boring. Especially after last summer. She pushed those thoughts away, took a deep breath, and forced herself to focus on the test.